Originally posted by KC Elbows
[B]Here’s common items around me that I can use as weapons and periodically am reminded of such(work construction, some jobs run late, some are in bad areas, so making it clear you are a ******* makes your life easier):
-prybar(can pretty much use broadsword techs with)
-hammer(same deal, good paired with prybar)
-screwdriver(not great, but better than nothing, I certainly wouldn’t want stabbed with one)
-knives(simple enough)[/B]
Hmm, how about for an IT worker:
-mouse (bludgeoning and strangulation!) great if you have a heavy trackball
-pen(cil)
-scissors
-hot coffee
-broken cd
-broken coffee mug
-chair
Not as heavy-duty as the construction worker’s stuff, but then again, an office guy who attacks me will tend to be less heavy-duty than a construction worker anyway…
Originally posted by NorthernShaolin Spinning in weapon in sets , especially long ones, demonstrates to the observer that you have full control of the weapon. Therefore the faster one spins the weapon, short or long, the more control of the weapon.
i was waiting for someone to post that.
like other said it can be used to scare away enemies, also blocking, and wrist flexibility.
I find it funny how such minutia is given such importance.
Plum blossom is just one set of techniques in a given form. You see it everywhere in long weapons because they’re all basically just staffs with a different doohickey at the end. Some dohickeys slice, some poke, some chop, some hook, some do it all.
The plum blossom techniques break down as functions of a circle. Each quarter of a turn is another block and strike technique. There are many combinations with either side of the staff within the circle. But again its just one thing. Why harp on something so trivial.
You can find a stick anywhere. Or carry one.
You can find a pointy stick anywhere. Viola, you have a spear.
I have a machette in my car. (I know, cuban with a machette, how original)
Viola, I have a sword.
A length of chain, a rope, a broom, any gardening tool…
As for the dog brothers, they learn form for their stick fighting everyday. They learn diffent techniques, methods and sequences. That is a form. The form is just the shape of something. You can’t escape it. Without form all you have is chaotic accidental techniques. Even learning how to make a fist is a form. Drills are forms, single techniques are forms. Basics are forms. A throw has a form.
The form of a ring is a circle. Without its form it wouldn’t be a ring, it would be just a blob of gold.
Hmm, how about for an IT worker:
-mouse (bludgeoning and strangulation!) great if you have a heavy trackball
-pen(cil)
-scissors
-hot coffee
-broken cd
-broken coffee mug
-chair
Not as heavy-duty as the construction worker’s stuff, but then again, an office guy who attacks me will tend to be less heavy-duty than a construction worker anyway… [/B]
Heh my work bench has the following:
-Screwdriver
-hemostats
-wire cutters
-dental picks
-tweasers
-soldering iron (thats actually in the cabinet)
-tons of floppys and CDs
-AC Adapters
-power cords
-cables (usb, parallel, scsi, etc)
-tons of cardboard boxes (cardboard cuts suck)
-wrenches
-dremmel tool
-tons of chemical cleaners that are ESD safe (and I am sure would blind a person)
I would say the IT worker has some make shift weapons available. Don’t forget all the paper work (like word orders) and magazines laying around and books. Those could be used too.
The plum blossom techniques break down as functions of a circle. Each quarter of a turn is another block and strike technique. There are many combinations with either side of the staff within the circle. But again its just one thing. Why harp on something so trivial.
I’m surprised it took that long for someone to say it too.
Jeez.
To take sabre plum blossom movements as an example and break it down:
downward chop down ward from 2 o’clock—> parry anything on the whole left side as the blade comes up —> downward chop from 10 o’clock —>repeat
Add foot work for a smooth transition to:
Upward slash —> parry highline attack —>upward slash on the other side ----> etc.
At any point in the cycle you shoudl be able to change your angle or follow up slash. For example, on the upward slash, you could follow it with a horizontal slash without giving up momentum.
If you think it’s purely because “it looks pretty” you should drop in on a Kali or escrima class sometimes and ask what the hell is sinawali for? They are more likely to give you an intellegent answer than your average gong fu teacher.
Emphasise on the “more likely” part. Not denying the existence of awsome gong fu teachers. Just facing the reality.
Philipino/Indonesian (sp?) based arts like Kali and escrima tend to be more in the know when it comes to weapons. This is a comparitive statement about the average level of instruction available. Not an opinion about who is best or even where you are likely to find the very best teacher. But come on…you walk in to a dozen CMA schools and ask questions about weapons work and then do the same thing with a dozen escrima/silat/Kali schools and you know your going to get fewer CMA instructors who really understand all the weapons they teach.
Originally posted by ShaolinTiger00
[B]Why do I have to always be the voice of reality?
FP, Why are you bothering to question the techniques of weapons that haven’t been used in actual military combat for a few hundred years?
It’s just a silly form, so it may as well look cool.
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Have you ever been in the military or seen footage of Marines or Army bootcamp? The part where they are training with pugil sticks, 'cause they are safer than trying to teach beginners with the real thing (rifle with fixed bayonette)??? Look a little closer; it’s basically the same technique used for lond weapons.
Most of my skill with the Bo didn’t even come from training with one. It came from spinning flags, swords, rifles, anything I could get my hands on, in high school as part of the flag corp for the marching band… That is how I cought the atention of my first master, he saw that I could pick up anything, no mater how unballenced it was, and spin it well. Once you can controll an object, it takes only inclination to turn it into a weapon.
"I’ve noticed that most long weapons forms have a two handed spinning motion at some point in the form.
In CLF it is known as Gau Fah or “Turning Flower.”
What is type of movement for? It seems like as soon as the weapon hit something that it would stop the motion and be rather ineffective.
Any ideas?"
Weapons that alternate sides the turn can exercise a deflect then strike.
Weapons that follow-through and continue in one-ish path are building~ momentum to knock. The momentum can slow but does not necessarily stop when it hits something if the end barely hits it. a staff spun fast enough can cot a quarter inch thick tree type thing, enough to cut flesh at least-ish. Whips can cut. the gardening tool weed whacker~ is a plastic cord spun fast it cuts grass and can dig. Also cuts some thicknesses of branches. Soft/flexible weapons can have these effects plus their weight can knock (out), at least bruise whenn spinning sufficiently and connecting sufficiently with whatever to affect skin.
The length can be altered like ropedart, and shot like a bullet or cannonn (though not likely as fast).
What is type of movement for? It seems like as soon as the weapon hit something that it would stop the motion and be rather ineffective.
It can also be usefull to redirect the momentum. For example, you are spinning a staff and some staff/body part gets caught up in it. You can redirect the momentum from your staff into a strike to what ever bodypart is in line at that moment. You could also redirect into another spin or other blocking move.
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